Wire cutter



p 1943. H. w. ROMANOFF 2,330,009

WIRE CUTTER Filed June 3, 1942 30 I 29 5 III J 3 EPPoLYrE WROMA NOFF INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -2330009 g U CUTTER HippolyteWL Romanoff, New York, N. Y. 7 Application June a, 1942',sfaa1 No. Masts Claims. (0130-18 9) My invention relates to wire cutters and has particular reference to pocket type portable cutters.

My invention has for its object to provide a cutter which can be carried in a pocket,.being of a relatively small size, but which is sufiiciently strong to cut the toughest steel wire suchas is used for barb wire fences and wire entanglements. I My cutter is therefore especially suitable for the use by military patrols, parachute troops, Commandos and other army troops.

In my patent application Serial No. 440,512, filed April 25, 1942, I disclosed an improved type of a cutter for steel wire, the movable jaw of. the cutter being provided with a removable cutting insert. I have found, 1 however, that the insert must be considerably reduced in size in view of th fact that the best results are obtained with an expensive high grade alloysteel. For the same reason it was found necessary. to use a similar insert in the stationary jaw, t he two inserts J being identical in shape and interchangeable. Considerable economy in the use of alloy steel is thereby effected, simplifying at the same time the manufacture and replacements since only one type of cutting insert is needed for both, station? ary and movablejaws. I v Another object of my invention is to provide strong and durable insulation casings for the handles in order to render the device safe for use on electrically charged, wires and, also, to make their use easier for the operators hands.

Various plastic materials are usually employed for this purpose, moulded directly on the handles.

I have found, however, that a large amount of plastic material required adds considerably to the cost of production, and besides, the plastic, when used in a heavy layer, is apt to crack or break off when struck with a sharp object.

In my cutter I make the insulation for the handles by tightly winding a cord, made of a suitable non-conducting or insulating material such as asbestos, glass yarn, etc., the cord being then dipped or moulded with a suitable plastic. The resultant covering or jacket is very tough and resists a great deal of abuse, being at the same time easy for the hands and having good insulating properties.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of my cutter in an open or inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the cutter in a closed or operative position; and

- device.

. Fig.4 is anend view of the same;

Fig. 5, is an enlarged-detailqvie w of a pivotfor the movableJ'aW- ,1 Q:

Mywi e ters-consists o ai ok ma e f t o steel plates I andZ heldtogether at the rear by rivets 3, passing through the front endof a stationary handle 4. A stationary jaw 5; is placedfbetweenthe front ends of the plates I and z and is held by screws li. An insert 1 s fitted by its dove-tailedend 8 into a corresponding slot in the jaw 5 the insert having a: cutting edge} atthe rear side. An identical insert I0 isfitted by its dove-tailedend 8 into a corresponding slot in a movable jaw l I' which is .pivote'd' at'the front end on a screw I2. "The threaded end o'f'the screw is held by a round nu-t I3, 'rotative1y fitted in a correspondinghole M in the "plate I so that rotation of thejaw 1 1dr,of'tnescrewwu have no tendency to tighten or to release the nut.

The 'rear endof the movable jaw" is of an-a'rcu ate shape atv I4, concentric with-the screw or pivot I2 and slidably engaged similarlyshaped front end of the stationary'handle' l. The slide ing connectionjbetwe'en" these partsprovides" for a dust-proof enclosure for the, inner parts of the An additional protection is provided. by a shield bar I5," slidably fitted in grooves in the plates I and 2 and held in place bythe upper end of the stationary jaw 5... In the fullyo'pened po- A movable handle I6 is pivoted at I! between the plates I and 2 and has a rounded front end I8, engaged by prongs I9, 20 at the rear end of the movable jaw. A double leverage is thereby obary jaw 5.

The stationary jaw has a curved extension 2I for guiding a wire 22 to be cut into a slot 23 between the jaw inserts I and Ill.

The plates I and 2 are additionally reinforced by a screw 24, the movable jaw having a recess 25 for this screw.

The cutting inserts I and ID are so made that they are interchangeable and can be fitted equally well into the stationary and movable jaws. The manufacture of the wire cutter is thereby simplified with a corresponding reduction in cost, etven if the inserts are made of a high grade alloy s eel.

Insulating jackets for the handles are made by tightly winding a rope or cord 26, preferably of a non-conducting material such as asbestos, glass threads, etc. The ends of the cord are fitted in holes 21, 28 in the handles. A plastic insulating composition 29, 29-1 is moulded over the cords under suitable pressure and at an increased temperature so that the fibres of the cord become fully impregnated with this composition. The resultant covering for the handles is very strong and resists sharp blows, wear and other abuses, while affording sufiicient protection against electric shocks when-the cutter is used for cutting charged wires.

It is understood that my cutter may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: a

1. A wire cutter comprising a hollow flatmember with side walls; a stationary handle attached to the rear end of the member; a stationary j'aw 7 attached at the front end of the member between the walls; a movable jaw pivotally supported at the front end in the member in cooperation with the stationary jaw; a movable handle pivotally supported at the rear end of themein'ber; "ashOrt extension at the front end of the movable handle; prongs at the rear end of the movable jaw engaging the extension of the movable handle; the movable handle, when moved toward the stationary handle, being thereby adapted to bring the movable jaw against the stationary jaw; and interchangeable identical sharp cuam anserts re'movably fitted in the inner edges of the stationary and movable jaws and retained in position by the side walls of the hollow member.

insulating composition moulded over the cords on the handles and forming jackets for the handles.

A wire cutter comprising a member tarmac 'oftwo fiat plates; a stationary jaw remcvably fitted between the front 'ends'of the plates; a stationary handle fitted'between the rear ends or the plates a movable jaw pivotally supported between the plates in a cooperative relation to the stationary jaw; a movable handle pivotally supported between the plates,'having a 'shoit L'xtension at the front end, the rear end of the movable jaw being operatively connected "to the extension of the movable handle, and a shield slidablyfitted in grooves in the plates'alongtliei'r upper edges, the front end of theshieldb'eirig retained in itspl'ace by the upper end of thestationary jaws.

3. A wire cutt'er'comprisin'g a hollow fiat memher; a stationary handle att'ached'to thera'r end of the member; astationary jaw attachdat the '4. A wire cutter comprising a hollow flat member; a stationary handle attached to the rear end of the member; a stationary jaw attached at the -f-ront endotf the inember; a movable jaw pivotally supported at the front end in the member in cooperation with the stationary jaw; a movable handle pivotally supported-atthe'rear end of the member; a short extension at the front end of the movable handle; operative connections-between the extension of the movable handle'and rearend of the movable jaw for movin the Jaws together when the movable handle ismoved against the stationary handle; vflexible -cords tightlywound on the handles; :the ends of the cords being fitted in holes provided therefor in the handles, the cords being impregnated with an insulating plastic com-position forming jackets for the handles.

'5. A wire cutter comprisingahollow flat mem ber; a stationary handleattadhedtothe rear end of the member; a stationary Jaw v attached at the front end of the member; a movableijaw pivot ally supported at the front end -in the memb er. in cooperation with the st'ationaryjaw; a movable handlepivot'ally supported at the rear end of the member; -'a "short extension "at the front end of the movable handle; operative connections between the extension of the movablehandle and rear end of the movable j awfor "moving 'th'etj aw's tcge'thenwhen the movable handle is :moved against the statilonair-y handle; :fiexible cords tightly wouhd "on the handles andmadebf nonconducting fibers; and layers=df a pla'stic-coinposition moulded ever the cords and forming jackets for-th'e'hari'dl's. l l

/ I-iIPPoLY'rE WARLOMANQFF. 

